Column for load lifting devices

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a vertical column for load lifting devices, which includes: a generally rectangular vertical outer shell; a generally rectilinear vertical inner shell; and the inner shell being joined to the outer shell so as to form four vertical interior rectangular tubes at the corners of the outer shell.

I claim: 
     
       1. A vertical column for load lifting devices, comprising: (a) said column being rectangular in cross-section;   (b) four vertical interior rectangular tubes at the corners of said column and integral therewith, one of more of said tubes to receive therein hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical lines to facilitate lifting of said load; and   (c) a vertical opening defined in one side of said column, said opening to receive therein a carriage assembly to lift said load.   
     
     
       2. A column, as defined in claim 1, wherein said column includes cojoined inner and outer shells and: (a) said outer shell includes a vertical back wall, first and second vertical side walls attached orthogonally to either side of said back wall at first edges of said side walls, and a front wall attached orthogonally to second edges of said side walls;   (b) said inner shell includes: a first vertical wall attached orthogonally to said front wall of said outer shell and extending inwardly toward said back wall thereof; a second vertical wall attached orthogonally to said first wall and extending to said first side wall of said outer shell so as to define a first one of said four tubes between said first and second walls, said first side wall, and said front wall; a third vertical wall adjacent and attached to said first side wall and attached orthogonally to said second wall and extending toward said back wall; a fourth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said third wall and extending toward said second side wall; a fifth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said fourth wall and extending to said back wall so as to define a second of said four tubes between said fourth and fifth walls, said first side wall, and said back wall; a sixth vertical wall adjacent and attached to said back wall and attached orthogonally to said fifth wall and extending toward said second side wall; a seventh vertical wall attached orthogonally to said sixth wall and extending away from said back wall; an eighth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said seventh wall and extending to said second side wall so as to define a third of said four tubes between said seventh and eighth walls, said back wall and said side wall; a ninth vertical wall adjacent and attached to said second side wall and attached orthogonally to said eighth wall and extending away from said back wall; a tenth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said ninth wall and extending toward said first side wall; and an eleventh vertical wall attached orthogonally to said tenth wall and attached orthogonally to said front wall of said outer shell so as to define a fourth of said four tubes between said tenth and eleventh walls, said second side wall, and said front wall.   
     
     
       3. A column, as defined in claim 2, further comprising said vertical opening being defined in said front wall between said first and fourth tubes. 
     
     
       4. A column, as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and eleventh walls are attached to inwardly facing tabs formed at the edges of said opening. 
     
     
       5. A vertical column for a vehicle lift of the type having a carriage movable within said column, said carriage having two slider blocks extending therefrom interiorly of said column for guiding said carriage therein and for transferring force to said column, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular vertical outer shell;   (b) a generally rectilinear vertical inner shell;   (c) said inner shell being joined to said outer shell so as to form four vertical interior rectangular tubes at the corners of said outer shell; and   (d) a vertical opening defined in one side of said column to accommodate the extension therefrom of said carriage.   
     
     
       6. A column, as defined in claim 5, further comprising: (a) opposing facing outside walls of two of said four tubes disposed on one side of said opening and the wall joining them forming working surfaces for the engagement thereof by one of said two slider blocks; and   (b) opposing facing outside walls of two of said four tubes disposed on the other side of said opening and the wall joining them forming working surfaces for the engagement thereof by the other of said two slider blocks.   
     
     
       7. A column, as defined in claim 5, wherein said column has sufficient interior volume to accommodate therein a lift pawl in addition to said carriage. 
     
     
       8. A column, as defined in claim 5, wherein said tubes have sufficient interior volume to accommodate therein one or more items selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic line, a pneumatic line, and an electrical cable. 
     
     
       9. A column, as defined in claim 5, wherein: (a) said outer shell includes a vertical back wall, first and second vertical side walls attached orthogonally to either side of said back wall at first edges of said side walls, first and second vertical flanges attached orthogonally to second edges of said side walls and extending toward each other to define said opening therebetween;   (b) said inner shell includes: a first vertical wall attached orthogonally to said first flange of said outer shell and extending inwardly toward said back wall thereof; a second vertical wall attached orthogonally to said first wall and extending to said first side wall of said outer shell so as to define a first one of said four tubes between said first and second walls, said first side wall, and said first flange; a third vertical wall adjacent and attached to said first side wall and attached orthogonally to said second wall and extending toward said back wall; a fourth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said third wall and extending toward said second side wall; a fifth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said fourth wall and extending to said back wall so as to define a second of said four tubes between said fourth and fifth walls, said first side wall, and said back wall; a sixth vertical wall adjacent and attached to said back wall and attached orthogonally to said fifth wall and extending toward said second side wall; a seventh vertical wall attached orthogonally to said sixth wall and extending away from said back wall; an eighth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said seventh wall and extending to said second side wall so as to define a third of said four tubes between said seventh and eighth walls, said back wall and said side wall; a ninth vertical wall adjacent and attached to said second side wall and attached orthogonally to said eighth wall and extending away from said back wall; a tenth vertical wall attached orthogonally to said ninth wall and extending toward said first side wall; and an eleventh vertical wall attached orthogonally to said tenth wall and attached orthogonally to said second flange of said outer column so as to defined a fourth of said four tubes between said tenth and eleventh walls, said second side wall, and said second flange.   
     
     
       10. A column, as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and eleventh walls of said inner shell are attached to inwardly facing vertical tabs formed on the edges of said first and second flanges, respectively. 
     
     
       11. A column, as defined in claim 9, wherein said sixth wall of said inner shell is discontinuous such that said inner wall comprises two elements. 
     
     
       12. A column, as defined in claim 11, wherein said two elements are symmetrical.